Centrifugal variety apparatus for mixing and reacting liquid materials



June 51951 F. PERNTHALER 2,

CENTRIFUGAL VARIETY APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND REACTING LIQUID MATERIALS Filed Aug. 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 aezzr June 5, 1951 F PERNTHALER 2,555,899

CENTRIFUGAL VARIETY APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND REACTING LIQUID MATERIALS Filed Aug, 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sweet 2 I 60 a"? a L K 71 4, -i206 Z677 filZi er/zfiar Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTRIFUGAL VARIETY APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND REACTING LIQUID MATE- RIALS Claims.

The present invention relates generally to mixing apparatus. More particularly the invention relates to that type of apparatus which serves as a medium or instrumentality for mixing materials in liquid form for reaction purposes and as its principal components or parts comprises (1) a power driven rotor which is mounted to revolve about a vertical axis and consists of a bottom structure and a plurality of upwardly extending, spaced apart, concentric, annular, chamberforming walls; (2) a stationary cover which overlies the rotor and consists of a top structure and a plurality of downwardly extending, spaced apart, concentric annular partitions between and in spaced relation with the upwardly extending annular walls of the rotor; and (3) a plurality of conduits which lead downwards through the central portion of the top structure of the cover and serve to introduce the materials to be mixed together for reaction purposes into the rotors innermost chamber from whence, in connection with drive of the rotor, they flow outwards successively through the other chambers which are formed or defined by the upwardly extending walls of the rotor.

One object of the invention is to provide a mixing apparatus of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed apparatus and is characterized by extremely high efficiency and simplicity of design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mixing apparatus of the type under consideration in which the upwardly extending annular walls of the rotor have the upper margins thereof inclined inwards, i. e., in the direction of the axis of the rotor, and embody beneath such margins radially extending nozzles which during operation of the apparatus jet the materials outwards so that they flow successively through the chambers that are formed or defined by the annular walls of the rotor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mixing apparatus of the type and character under consideration in which the upwardly ex tending annular walls of the rotor progressively decrease in height from the innermost wall to the outermost wall and the top structure of the cover is conical.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mixing apparatus of the aforementioned type in which the rotor is formed of a plurality of stamped metal cup shaped members which are arranged in nested relation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mixing apparatus of the type under consideration in which the central portion of the cover is provided with a depending baffie arrangement which is disposed in the innermost chamber of the rotor and serves intimately to mix the liquid materials as they enter such chamber from the conduits.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mixing apparatus which is generally of new, and improved construction, effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose and is so designed and constructed that it may be produced and operated at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present mixing apparatus will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the con-' clusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of ,a mixing ap paratus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure l and illustrating in detail the arrangement of the downwardly extending concentric annular partitions of the cover with respect to the upwardly extending concentric annular chamber-forming walls of the rotor;

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the rotor showing in detail the manner in which it is'formed or constructed; and r I Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the radially extending nozzles. The apparatus which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is adapted in connection with use thereof and as described hereafter more in detail, to mix together liquid materials for re-- action purposes. As its principal components the, apparatus comprises a vertically extending shaft 5, a rotor 6 on the lower end of the shaft, and a stationary cover 1 above the rotor. As shown in in Figure l, the apparatus is supported by a horizontally extending plate 8. The latter is supthe apparatus and embodies a cylindrical side wall H and an infundibular or funnel "shaped shown) bottom wall I2. The side wall II of the container is disposed concentrically with respect to the circular opening 9 and has its upper margm connected to the bottom face of the plate 8 in any suitable manner. The bottom wall I2 is connected to the lower margin of the container side wall II and embodies at its lower or apex portion a rvalvecontrolled outlet (not shown).

The vertically extending shaft of the mixing apparatus is driven by an electric motor I3 and extends through the circular opening 9 in the supporting plate '8. The central and upper portions of the shaft are disposed within an elongated, vertically extending, sectional journal box I4. They are supported rotatably by a. lower roller bearing I5 and an upper-roller bearing 16. The journal box I4 consists of an upper section and a lower section. The upper section embodies a cylindrical side wall I! and this embodies at its lower end an outwardly extending annular flange .IB. Such flange rests on the opening defining portion of .the supporting plate 8 and is fixedly secured thereto by way of. an annular series of bolts It. At a point beneath its upper end the cylindrical side wall ll of the upper section of the journal box is provided with an inwardly extending annular flange 20. The lower section of .the journal box consists .ofa cylindrical side wall 2I and this is the same in diameter as, and in longitudinal alignment with, the cylind ical side wall ll of the upper section of the journal box. The upper end of the side wall 2'! of the lower section of the journal box is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 22 and the lower end is provided with an inwardly extending annular flange 23. The flange 22 abuts against, and is secured by vertically extending bolts 24 to, the inner marginal portion of the outwardly extending annular flange I 8 on the lower end of the cylindrical side wall I! of the upper section of the journal box. The lower roller bearing I5 surrounds the central portion of the shaft 5 and consists of outer and inner races and an annular series of rollers between the races. The outer race of the bearing I5 rests on the inwardly extending flange 23 and the inner race rests on an upwardly extending shoulder 25 on the central portion of the shaft 5 and is held in place by way of a clamp sleeve 26 which is urged downwards by way of a nut 21. The latter surrounds the central portion of the shaft 5 and is connected thereto by way of a screw thread connection (not The upper roller bearing I6 surrounds the upper portion of the shaft 5 and consists of outer-and inner races and an. annular series of rollers between the two races. the upper bearing overlies the inwardl extending annular flange 20 and is held in place by way of a ring shaped cap 28 which is secured to the upper end of the cylindrical side wall I! of the upper section of the journal box by cap screw 29. The inner race of the bearing I6 overlies an annular upwardly facing shoulder 39 on the upper. portion of the shaft 5 and is held in place by way of a clamp sleeve 3| which is urged downwards by nuts 32 on the upper end of the shaft 5. Said upper end of the shaft 5 projects through and terminates above the ring shaped cap 28.

The electric motor I3 for driving the shaft 5 of the mixing apparatus is located at one side of the. upper section of the journal box I4 and con- Sts of a housing 33 and a vertically extending armature shaft (not shown). The motor housing 33 rests on, and is suitably fixedl connected to, the supporting plate 8. The motor i3. is. (20.11.-

The outer race of nected to drive the shaft by way of a gear variety speed reducing unit 3% and a pulley and belt connection 35. The speed reducing unit 34 is mounted on the upper end of the motor housing 33 as shown in Figure 1. It is connected to be driven by the armature shaft of the motor I3 and embodies an upwardly extending driven shaft 36. The pulley and belt connection 35 consists of a pulley'3l on the upper end of the driven shaft 35, a pulley 38 on the upper end of the shaft 5, and an endless belt 39 around the two pulleys. Whereas the shaft 5 may be driven at any desired ,speed'by the motor I3 it has been found that I in connection with the mixing and reacting of certain liquid materials a speed of 500 R. P. M. produces desirable results.

The rotor 6 of the apparatus is disposed within the container It and surrounds, and is connected for drive by, the lower portion of the vertically extending shaft 5. It is of composite character and consists of a two-piece hub 4E? and a plurality of cup shaped members 4!, 42, 33, 14, 45 and 46. The .hub 30 surrounds the lower end of the shaft 5 and consists of a cylindrical inner piece 4'! and a cylindrical outer piece 48. The inner pieceis provided at its upper end with an outwardly extending annular flange 49 and is fixedly or drivably connected to the lower end of the shaft 5 by a longitudinally extending key 553. The inner portion of the key fits within an outwardly facing'key-way in the lower end of the shaft 5 and the outer portion of the key fits within an inwardly facing key-way in the inner periphery of the inner piece 4? of the hub. The upper end of the inner piece il is clamped against a downwardly facing shoulder ti on the lower portion of the shaft 5 by a pair of nuts 52. The latter are mounted .on a screw threaded stem 53 on the lower end of the shaft 5. The cylindrical outer piece 48 of the hub Bil surrounds the central portion of the inner piece M of the hub and is provided at its upper end with a comparatively wide outwardly extending annular flange 5 It is held against downward displacement by way of a nut 55 which surrounds the lower end of the cylindrical inner piece 41 of the hub and is mounted on an external screw thread. The cup shaped members 4!, d2, 43, 4d, 25 and 36 are preferably in the form of stainless steel stamp-- ings and each consists of a flat bottom wall and an upwardly extending annular or cylindrical side wall. They are arranged in nested relation and have the side walls thereof concentrically disposed and spacedapart. The bottom walls of the cup shaped members rest on one another and are supported on the annular outwardly extending flange 54 of the cylindrical outerpieoe 48 of the hub it. The central portions of'the bottom walls of .the cup shaped members have circular openings 56 through which the upper end of the cylindrical inner piece .4! of the hub 4E3 extends. The opening defining portions of the bottom walls of the cup shaped members are clamped between the outwardly extending flange t9 and the inner portion of the flange 54 in order that the cup shaped members are connected to rotate with the hub 49 in'connection with drive of the shaft 5. Vertically extending pins 51 depend from the flange 4Q, extend through holes 58 in the inner marginal portions of the bottom walls of the cup shaped members and into sockets 59 in the cylindrical outer piece :28 of the hub and. serve to connect the cup shaped members to-- though it is to be understood that more or less may be employed if desired. The side wall of the cup shaped member 4| defines with a cylindrical sleeve 60 a ring shaped chamber 6|. The sleeve 60 surrounds the lower portion of the shaft 5 at a point above the downwardly facing shoulder 5| and has its lower end suitably secured to the upper end of the cylindrical inner piece 41 of the hub 40. The side wall of the cup shaped members 4| and 42 define between them a ring shaped chamber 62 directly outwards of the chamber 6|; the side walls of the members 42 and 43 define between them a ring shaped chamber 63 directly outwards of the chamber 62; the side walls of the members 43 and 44 define between them a ring shaped chamber 64 directly outwards of the chamber 63; the side walls of the members 44 and45 define between them a ring shaped chamber 65 directly outwards of the chamber 64; and the side walls of the members 45 and 46 define between them a ring shaped chamber 66 directly outwards of the chamber 65. The side walls of the cup shaped members are of progressively decreasing height from the innermost side wall to the outermost side wall and as a result the ring shaped chambers progressively decrease in height from innermost to outermost. Two vertically extending conduits 6T serve to introduce into the innermost chamber 6| the liquid materials that are to be mixed together for reaction purposes. One of the conduits 61 extends downwards through registering openings in the flanges I8 and 22 and is adapted to have one of the liquid materials to be mixed introduced into its upper end. The lower end of the one conduit 61 constitutes a discharge and terminates at the upper inner portion of the chamber 6|. The other conduit 6! is disposed diametrically opposite the one conduit and is adapted to have another of the liquid materials to be mixed introduced into its upper end. Its lower end constitutes a discharge and leads to and terminates adjacent the upper inner portion of the chamber 6|. The upper margins of the side walls of the cup shaped members are bent inwards at substantially a 45 angle in order to form inwardly extending lips 69 for restraining up-flow 0f the liquid materialsin the various ring shaped chambers. Directly beneath the lips 69 the side walls of the cup shaped members are provided with radially extending holes 10 and these have associated therewith nozzles The latter have orifices 12 therein and are arranged so that the orifices are in alignment and communicating relation with the holes 10. Preferably the nozzles H are welded to the outer surfaces of the side walls of the cup shaped members. In connection with operation of the apparatus the liquid materials which are introduced into the chamber 6| by the conduits 61 and 68 become mixed in the chamber and the mixture, in response to centrifugal force, swirls around the side wall of the cup shaped member 4| and then is jetted outwards through the nozzles on the side wall of the cup shaped member 4| into the next outer chamber 62. After being jetted into the chamber 62 the mixture swirls around the side wall of the cup shaped member 42 and is then jetted into the chamber 63 through the nozzles on the side wall of the cup shaped member 42. After being jetted into the chamber 62 the mixture swirls around the side wall of the cup shaped member 43 and is then jetted into the chamber 64. From such chamber the mixture is successively jetted into the chambers 65 and 66. From the chamber 66 the mixture is jetted outwards through the nozzles on the side wall of the cup shaped member 46 into the interior of the container II] which, as heretofore pointed out, surrounds the rotor of the apparatus. The materials of which the mixture is composed are thoroughly mixed for reaction purposes in connection with swirling and jetting. The upwardly and inwardly inclined lips 69 at the upper marginal portions of the side walls of the cup shaped members tend to restrain the mixture so that it flows through the nozzles 1!. If desired a third material in liquid form may be introduced into the chamber 64 for mixing with the liquid mixture in such chamber. A vertically extending conduit 13 serves this purpose. It extends downwards through a. hole 14- in the supporting plate 8 and has the lower discharge end thereof disposed in the lower portion of the chamber 64.

The cover I of the mixing apparatus is disposed between the rotor E and the supporting plate 8 and consists of a top structure 15, and downwardly extending, spaced apart, concentric, annular partitions 16, ll, 18, I9 and 80. The top structure 15 is conical and overlies and is spaced a small distance above the annular side walls of the cup shaped members 4|, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 of the rotor 6. It is formed of any suitable comparatively thick plate metal and has a circular, centrally disposed opening 3| through which extends the lower portion of the shaft 5. The inner marginal portion of the top structure 15 fits against the bottom face of an outwardly and downwardly extending annular flange 82 on the lower end of the cylindrical lower section of the journal box l4. Bolts 83 extend through aligned holes in the flange 82 and the inner marginal portion of the top structure 15 and serve rigidly to hold in place the cover 1. The annular partitions 18, ll, l8, l9 and 8d depend from the top structure 15 and have the outer margins thereof welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the bottom face of said top structure. The partition Hi is disposed substantially midway between the side walls of the cup shaped mem bers 4| and 42 and is of such height that the lower edge thereof is disposed a small distance above the bottom of the ring shaped chamber 52. The partition 11 is disposed substantially midway between the side walls of the cup shaped members 42 and 43 and is arranged so that its lower edge terminates a small distance above the bottom of the chamber 63. The partition 18 is located between the upwardly extending side walls of the cup shaped members 43 and 44 and has its lower edge disposed a small distance above the bottom of the chamber 64. The par tition 19 is positioned substantially midway between the upwardly extending side walls of the cup shaped members 44 and 45 and has its lower edge disposed a small distance above the bottom of the chamber 65. The partition is positioned substantially midway between the upward- 1y extending side walls of the cup shaped members 45 and 46 and is of such height that its lower edge is spaced a small distance above the bottom of the ring shaped chamber 56. The par- .titions are imperforate and each operates to cause the mixture which is jetted into its particular chamber to flow first downwards and then upwards in order to assist in intimately mixing for reaction purposes the liquid materials of which the liquidmixture is composed. Because of the construction and design of the annular partitionsthey, together with the top structure '15, prevent escape of vapor in connection with operation of the apparatus. In addition to the parts heretofore mentioned the stationary cover 1 comprises a baiile arrangement 85. The latter is disposed for the most part within the innermost chamber 6| and consists of spaced apart inner and outer cylindrical concentrically arranged sleeves 85 and 88 and vertically extending baffies 8'! between the two sleeves. The inner sleeve closely surrounds the sleeves 6D and is connected to, and depends from, the portion of the cover top structure 15 that defines the circular opening 8|. The outer sleeve 85 is spaced beneath the top structure 75 and is disposed wholly within the ring shaped chamber 6!. It is held in spaced relation to the inner sleeve 85 by the vertically extending bafiies 87. The latter are positioned radially so far as the axis of the shaft 5 is concerned and serve to reduce or diminish the speed of fiow of the liquid materials in the ring shaped chamber 6|. The lower or discharge ends of the conduits 61 and 58 are preferably arranged so that they feed or supply the liquid materials into the space between the inner and outer sleeves 85 and 86.

Assuming that the rotor 6 is being driven by the electric motor I3 and liquid materials to be mixed are being introduced by way of the conduits 6T, 68 and T3 the operation of the apparatus is as follows: 7

The liquid materials which are introduced into the chamber 6| by the conduits 6'1 and 68 are subjected to the baiile arrangement 8 and are mixed together in a preliminary manner. After being subjected to the action of the bafiie arrangement the mixture, in response to the action of centrifugal force, swirls around the upwardly extending annular side wall of the cup shaped member 4| and then, as previously pointed out, is jetted outwards through the nozzles at the upper margin of said side wall. The mixture, after being jetted through such nozzles, flows downwards across the inner face or periphery of the annular partition 15 and then flows upwards between said partition and the side wall of the cup shaped member 42. After up-flow of the mixture it is jetted outwards into the chamber 63 through the nozzles at the upper margin of the side wall of the cup shaped member 42. In a similar manner the mixture flows through the chambers 63, 64, 535 and 65 and is then jetted outwards against the inner periphery of the cylindrical side wall ll of the container It]. In connection with successive flow of the mixture through the chambers the desired reaction takes place.

' The herein described mixing apparatus is comparatively simple so far as design and construction are concerned and effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose. It has various capabilities of use and occupies but a small amount of space.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A centrifugal variety apparatus adapted to mix liquid materials for purposes of reaction and comprising a rotor mounted to revolve about a vertical axis, provided with power means for driving it, and embodying a bottom structure and a plurality of spaced apart concelitric annular walls connected fixedly to, and extending upwards from, the bottom structure, defining between them a series of ring shaped combined mixing and reacting chambers, adapted during drive of the rotor to have the liquid materials swirl therearound, having their upper margins inclined inwards to form material restraining lips, and, provided directly beneath said lips with circumferentially spaced apart orifice defining means whereby communication is established between the chambers .an-dathe liquid materials are caused, after swirling upwards around the annular walls and being restrained by said lips, to be jetted outwards in small sized streams from one chamber into the next, a stationary cover positioned over the rotor and embodying a top structure and a plurality of spaced apart concentric annular partitions connected to, and extending downwardly from, the top structure, projecting into, and terminating a small distance above the bottoms of, certain of the chambers, and serving to cause the liquid materials to fiow through said certain chambers in a U-shaped course, and conduit means for introducing into the innermost chamber the liquid materials to be mixed and reacted.

2. A centrifugal variety apparatus adapted to mix liquid materials for purposes of reaction and comprising a rotor mounted to revolve about a vertical axis, provided with power means for driving it, and embodying a bottom structure and a plurality of spaced apart concentric annular walls connected fixedly to, and extending upwards from, the bottom structure, defining between them a series of ring shaped combined mixing and reacting chambers, adapted during drive of the rotor to have the liquid materials swirl therearound, having their upper margins inclined inwards at substantially a 45 angle to form material restraining lips, and provided directly beneath the lips with circumferentially spaced apart radially extending nozzles whereby communication is established between the chambers and the liquid materials are caused, after swirling upwards around the annular walls and being restrained by said lips, to be jetted outwards in small sizedstreams from one chamber into the next, a cover positioned over the rotor and embodying a top structure and a plurality of imperiorate spaced apart concentric annular partitions connected to, and extending downwardly from, the top structure, projecting into, and terminating a small distance above the bottoms of,'certain of the chambers, and serving to cause the liquid materials to flow through said certain chambers in a U-shaped course, and conduit means for introducing into the innermost chamber the liquid materials to be mixed and reacted.

3. A centrifugal variety apparatus adapted to mix liquid materials for purposes of reaction and comprising a rotor mounted to revolve about a a vertical axis, provided with power means for driving it, and embodying a substantially fiat bottom structure and a plurality of spaced apart concentric annular walls connected fixedly to, and extending upwards from, the bottom structure, progressively decreasing in height from the in nermost to the outermost, defining between them a series of ring shaped combined mixing and reacting chambers, adapted during drive of the rotor to have the liquid materials swirl therearound, having their upper margins inclined in wards to form material restraining lips, and provided directly beneath the lips with radially extending nozzles whereby communication is established between the chambers and the liquid materials are caused, after swirling around the annular walls, to be jetted outwards from one chamber into the next, a stationary cover positioned over the rotor and embodying a conical top structure, a plurality of substantially imperforate spaced apart concentric annular partitions connected to, and extending downwardly from, the top structure, projecting into, and terminating a small distance above the bottoms of, the chambers, and serving to cause the liquid materials to flow through said chambers in a U-shaped course, conduit means extending downwards through the central portion of the top structure of the stationary cover and adapted to introduce into the innermost chamber the liquid materials to be mixed and reacted, and a stationary baffle arrangement disposed in said innermost chamber and consisting of a pair of spaced apart concentric sleeves suspended from the central portion of said top structure disposed on opposite sides of the conduit means and having the lower ends thereof spaced above the bottom of the innermost chamber, and in addition vertically and radially extending bafiles between the sleeves.

4. A centrifugal variety apparatus adapted to mix liquid materials for purposes of reaction and comprising a rotor mounted to revolve about a vertical axis, provided with power means for driving it and embodying a plurality of separately formed cup-shaped members connected together in nested relation and having the side walls thereof spaced apart and concentrically arranged, defining between them a series of ring shaped combined mixing and reacting chambers, adapted during drive of the rotor to have the liquid materials swirl therearound, and provided beneath their upper edges with orifice defining means whereby communication is established between the chambers and the liquid materials are caused, after swirling around the side Walls, to be jetted outwards from one chamber into the next, and a stationary cover positioned over the rotor and embodying a top structure and a plurality of spaced apart concentric annular partitions connected to, and extending downwardly from, the top structure, projecting into, and terminating a small distance above the bottoms of, certain of 10 the chambers and serving to cause the liquid materials to flow through said certain chambers in a U-shapedcourse, and conduit means for introducing into the innermost chamber the liquid materials to be mixed and reacted.

5. A centrifugal variety apparatus adapted to mix liquid materials for purposes of reaction and comprising a rotor mounted to revolve about a vertical axis, provided with power means for driving it, and embodying a plurality of separately formed one-piece cup-shaped members connected together in nested relation and havin the side walls thereof spaced apart and concentrically arranged, defining between them a series of ring shaped combined mixing and reaction chambers, adapted during drive of the rotor to have the liquid materials swirl therearound, provided with inwardly inclined upper margins to form material restraining lips, and provided directly beneath said lips with circumferentially spaced orifice defining means whereby communication is established between the chambers and the liquid materials are caused, after swirling upwards around the side walls and being restrained by said lips, to be jetted outwards in small sized streams from one chamber into the next, and a cover positioned over the rotor and embodying a top structure and a plurality of spaced apart concentric annular partitions connected to, and extending downwardly from, the top structure, projecting into, and terminating a small distance above the bottom of, certain of the chambers and servingto cause the liquid materials to flow through said certain chambers in a U-shaped course, and conduit means for introducing into the innermost chamber the liquid materials to be mixed and reacted.

FRITZ PERNTHALER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,670,593 Miller May 22, 1928 1,819,118 Preleuthner Aug. 18, 1931 1,866,535 Johnson July 112, 1932 2,010,405 MacIsaac Aug. 6, 1935 2,180,301 Saylor Nov. 14, 1939 

